Defender (Fearless Protectors #3)

Chapter One

Zoe

“He’s probably one of those internet fishers.” My mother pours herself a cup of coffee as she speaks. It’s the fresh from Hawaii kind that my aunt brought back from a trip last month. Mom insists on drinking it one drop at a time… to savor the flavors.

“Internet fishers? You mean catfish?” I resist rolling my eyes. “He’s not a catfish, Mom. We video chat all the time.”

“That’s not what I mean. He could have ulterior motives—like those foreign princes that want to take your hard-earned money and use it on bitcoin.”

Now I actually roll my eyes. “ Bitcoin? Mom, he doesn’t ask me for money.”

Defying her own savoring of the flavor profile, Mom pours sweetened creamer into her coffee and sighs. “I’m just saying… it’s safer to meet a boy right here in town. It’s how your father and I met.”

I love my mother, I really do. She’s always been there for me, and she really tries, but the woman is clueless. Clueless and overly protective. Take this situation, for instance. I’ve been talking to a guy online for three months. We have a ninety-two percent match in their compatibility system. His background is verified, and we video chat constantly, but he’s not real until my mother says he’s real. The mere fact that I could meet him someday puts her in some sort of psychosis.

This is seriously the third time we’ve talked about this in a week. Yesterday, the man was a charming murderer who was filling my head with lies in order to get my virginity and leave me for dead. The day before that, he was a cannibal who had a hunger for young girls. She saw that one on Dateline.

“Mom, you and Dad were lucky. You met in high school before the world went to shit and everyone forgot how to talk to each other. No one talks in real life anymore.”

“Then you start the conversation. Find a man you think is attractive and ask him a question. When your dad and I were dating, I asked him what his favorite band was.” She takes a sip of coffee. “He told me it was the Rolling Stones, and I also thought they were a good band, but I pretended to hate them so we’d have something to flirt about.”

I can’t help but laugh at the purity in her statement. “I’ll have to try that.”

“We both know you’re not going to try that.” Her eyes roll to the side. “Come on, Zoe Anne. You’re a beautiful girl. You could meet someone nice right here in Rugged Mountain.”

“I’ve tried. I don’t do the social thing well and the guys around here… I don’t think they find me attractive.”

Her brows wrinkle as though she’s personally insulted. “Why do you say that?”

“Ugh, because I’m alone every Friday night.”

“You don’t leave the house. That’s why you’re alone.”

“Anyway…” I swallow hard and suck in a deep breath. I can’t have this conversation again today. “Things are going well with this guy online and… yeah, we’ll see where it goes.” I’ve barely finished my sentence when my phone interrupts our conversation. “Oh, that’s Nora.”

I stand from the stool and reach for my purse before squeezing Mom tight. Despite all the bullshit, we’ve been through hell and back together. I try and remember that when she’s driving me crazy. “We’re going down to the playground today to help plant flowers.”

“They’re done with the playground? I thought they just started that project?” She wraps her robe tighter before holding the cup of coffee against her lips.

“No, it’s still a construction zone, but Mrs. Robinson is anxious to get the plants in while the weather is right. She wants blooms before the kids come to play. I’ll call you later this week. Love you.”

She replies with a ramble about coming back tomorrow morning for breakfast, but I keep walking. The breakfast invitation has become an everyday thing lately. I can’t deal with it this morning. Outside, I meet my friend Nora, who’s waiting in her dad’s old truck. He hates when she takes it off the farm. I know because we got in trouble for it one too many times as teenagers. Heck, we were driving that truck to the Springs far before we had licenses to drive. We were a couple of rebels. Where did those girls go?

I’m pretty sure at twenty-three we’re still supposed to be rebelling. Instead, she’s broke and working on her dad’s farm and I’m home every night talking to strange men on the internet.

Not strange. I didn’t say they’re strange.

“Hurry up!” She slaps the rusty truck door with a grin. “I’ve got news.”

I intentionally slow down, walking at a snail’s pace around the truck toward the passenger door. I love getting her going .

“Oh my God. Seriously? Move it or I’ll spank that ass.” She laughs at the last comment. This is how we play. She pretends to be the men from one of the books I like, and depending on the day, I either go along with it or I protest. It’s wildly entertaining for a couple of small-town girls without a whole lot else going on.

When I’m finally up in the truck, she glances toward me with wide eyes. “My parents asked me to help Colton out.”

“Oh… Colton. The forty-nine-year-old friend of your father’s you’ve been crushing on for years. That’s a super idea,” I say, using my announcer voice as though this is a movie trailer for a film I think is ridiculous.

She laughs and cocks an eyebrow. “Okay, so you really do want that spanking? Bend over.”

If she weren’t already driving, I would, but the roads up here are kind of sketchy, and I value my life. “You’ll have to spank me later. What are you helping him with?”

She glances toward me quickly, then back at the dirt road ahead of us. It’s a sunny day, but there are rain clouds in the distance that look to be moving this way. “He’s got his hands full with his kids and he’s going to need help. I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you mean? You need the money, and you need to stare at him, so… it’s an easy choice, right?”

“Yeah, but I get this weird, nervous thing every time we’re together. I don’t think I could focus on the kids with my stomach in knots. I’d probably drop one on their head or something.” She laughs under her breath. “Anyway, that’s my news. What about you?” She flicks on her blinker to turn down the old pine highway that leads to Main Street. Summer in Rugged Mountain is my favorite time of the year. The air is warm, everyone is happy, and there’s a buzz in town that’s full of life. “When are you meeting your guy?”

I shrug. “Not sure I’m ever going to meet him.”

“Okay,” her tone rises and falls quickly as though she’s confused, “why not? I thought you guys were hitting it off.”

“We are. He’s a nice guy, but he’s like, really old, and I’m not sure I’m as into that as you are. There’s about a twenty year age gap between us. My mom would lose it. She’s been so weird after Dad died. I don’t know.” I glance out the window, studying the flags blowing in the breeze as Nora turns onto Main Street. “Plus, I haven’t told him everything about me yet.”

Her brows wrinkle as we near the Queen Anne house that belongs to Mrs. Robinson, the town's oldest and most cherished resident. She’s working to have a public playground built on her property and the town loved the idea. So, everyone is chipping in to help build ‘Grandma’s Playground.’

“What are you talking about? You and Gunner talk all the time. You were video chatting all day yesterday. I think you took him on a video tour of the grocery store when you needed to pick up milk and eggs. I mean… that’s a level of closeness I’m not sure you get with someone you’re just friends with.”

“Yeah, but I’ve kept certain, very important things a secret.”

She checks her blind spot before pulling into Mrs. Robinson’s driveway, where a few cars are already parked. I don’t know why, but I thought we were the only ones coming today. “What do you need to tell him?”

I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I chew the inside of my cheek. “You know the whole—” The front door swings open and air stops circulating through my lungs. “Oh my God!”

“Oh my God, what?” Nora’s tone matches mine. “What’s wrong?”

I bend forward and squint my eyes, trying to convince myself that I’ve lost my mind. I mean, I must have lost my mind because there’s no way in hell the guy I’ve been talking to online is here, at Mrs. Robinson’s house.

No, that’s not possible… except it is. He’s right there in jeans and a t-shirt. God, he’s huge. Huge and really attractive. How is he so hot? I mean, I knew he was good looking, but here and now, he’s like… a god.

“We have to go.”

“What? We can’t go. Mrs. Robinson is counting on us today. What’s wrong?” Her hand lands on my back as she parks the old truck by the little fence along the driveway.

“That man that just came out of the house… is Gunner.”

Nora’s brows narrow. “Gunner, Gunner? The fisherman online, Gunner? ”

“ Yes! It’s him.”

“No, it can’t be. Why would he be here? That doesn’t make any sense. Does he live in Rugged Mountain?”

“No. I mean, I don’t think so. We didn’t share our locations. I was trying to be online safe. Besides, he said he had a fishing trip planned this weekend to see family.”

“Okay,” Nora fingers through her long, blonde hair, “maybe it’s not him then. You’ve only seen Gunner online and right now you’re looking at a man from a hundred feet away. I’m sure it’s just a guy that looks similar. Do you want me to go figure it out before you come in?”

“No. I don’t want to look stupid. It’s fine. I’m fine . I’m probably being ridiculous. You’re right. The guy is probably just some dude who looks a lot like Gunner.”

Heart pounding, I climb down from the truck, tugging up my jeans and straightening my shirt before we make our way up to the front porch where Mrs. Robinson and the man are standing. Mrs. Robinson notices us first, and though I’m trying to focus on her sweet smile and the bright pink dress she’s wearing, all I see is the giant, inked up, monster of a man in front of me.

He’s not some other guy. Not a chance.

This guy is one hundred percent the man I’ve been talking to. There’s no doubt about it. I haven’t seen all of his tattoos, but he has this skull on his hand that I remember pretty clearly, and there it is. There it is on his very worn hands. I knew he was older, but in person that reality is much clearer.

A nervous smile tugs at my lips as I step forward, pulse pounding. Despite his age, he’s gorgeous. Like, insanely hot and wildly out of my league.

I don’t even have makeup on. Nora and I were just coming over to play in the dirt. I literally look like shit!

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh, my freaking God!

I can’t breathe. I need air.

Why am I here? Why is he here? Where the hell is the escape button?